JP2009232943A - Counting unit for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a counting unit for game machines, which enables the counting of regular game balls (prize balls) after the selection of game balls by making the selection depending on difference in exchange rate of the game balls per game machine. <P>SOLUTION: In the counting unit 4 for a game machine 1, an inter-machine (ball dispensing unit) 3 provided adjacent to each game machine 1 is provided with a ball receiving tray 5 through a path unit 4 and the game balls discharged from a lower tray 9 of the game machine 1 are counted while being received with the ball receiving tray 5 to be recovered within a bank of game machines via the path unit 4 and the inter-machine unit 3. The counting unit includes: a selection part 7 which separates non-target balls PB and target balls UB from the game balls received with the ball receiving tray 5; and a counting part 8 for counting the non-target balls PB sorted out with the selection part 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game unit counting unit that counts game balls discharged as prize balls from a game machine installed in a game hall or the like for each game machine.

  Conventionally, in game halls and the like, a game ball that a player puts in a ball box is counted as a prize ball obtained by throwing it into a ball counter provided on the island edge of the game island. However, recently, there has been proposed an apparatus for counting the number of prize balls obtained for each game stand so that the player does not have to move with a ball box.

  As an example, referring to “Pachinko ball counting machine and ball counting system” described in Patent Document 1, this device includes a hopper unit below a lower plate provided for each pachinko machine. A ball counter equipped with a sensor unit is provided, and a pachinko ball that has passed through a hopper unit from a lower plate is automatically counted by a ball sensor provided in a counting passage of the sensor unit.

  By the way, in recent game halls and the like, a plurality of types of game balls with different exchange rates, which are distinguished by materials and colors, are prepared, and a player selects a specific game ball and plays a game. A system for counting spheres at a predetermined exchange rate has been proposed. However, if game balls having different exchange rates are counted in a state where they are mixed with game balls having other exchange rates, damage occurs in either the game hall or the player. In addition, if the player intentionally puts a game ball with a low exchange rate into a ball counter and makes it count together with a game ball with a high exchange rate, it is necessary to prevent such fraud. Arise.

However, although the device of Patent Document 1 described above can count the game balls acquired for each gaming machine, it does not have a function of selecting game balls with different exchange rates from regular game balls. Therefore, it has been impossible to prevent the player's illegal acts as described above.
JP-A-10-85442

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to select a game ball having a different exchange rate for each game table, and to count regular game balls (prize balls) after the selection. An object is to provide a counting unit.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a game in which a ball receiving tray is provided via a passage unit in a unit between tables adjacent to each gaming table, and is discharged from the lower plate of the gaming table. While counting the balls, the game balls discharged from the lower tray are received by the ball tray and collected on the game island via the passage unit and the inter-unit unit. In the game unit counting unit, from the game balls received by the ball tray A sorting unit that sorts into non-target balls and target balls and a counting unit that counts the non-target balls distributed by the sorting unit are provided.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the sorting unit includes a feeding unit that is driven to rotate in the vicinity of the lower end of the inclined passage provided on the ball receiving tray with a downward slope. Each game ball is transferred one by one, and the identification sensor provided in the vicinity of the feeding unit is used to identify whether the ball is a non-target ball or a target ball, and the non-target balls distributed by the passage switching unit that operates according to the identification result are counted. Counting is performed by a counting sensor provided in the section.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the sorting section and the counting section are provided in a passage unit installed adjacent to the ball receiving tray.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the sorting unit and the counting unit are arranged in an inter-unit unit disposed at a position after the game ball received by the ball receiving tray passes through the passage unit. It is characterized by being provided.

  Moreover, Claim 5 of the present invention is characterized in that, in Claims 1, 2, or 3, the target balls distributed by the sorting unit are stored in a target ball storage unit provided inside the ball tray. .

  Furthermore, claim 6 of the present invention is the recovery according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the target balls sorted by the sorting unit are recovered by the target ball recovery basket and provided at the end of the game island or in the game island. The non-target balls that are transferred to and stored in the section and sorted by the sorting section are collected on the amusement island.

  According to the game unit counting unit of the present invention configured as described above, a different type of game ball (target) having a different exchange rate from a regular prize ball (non-target ball) by a sorting unit provided for each game table. Ball) and a regular prize ball can be counted by the counting unit, so that game balls having different exchange rates can be identified and managed for each game machine in a game hall or the like.

  In addition, it is possible to detect fraud when a player intentionally inserts a different type of game ball with a different exchange rate for each gaming table, and to take measures to prevent such fraud It is possible to stand.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the non-target ball is referred to as a prize ball PB discharged from each game table, and the target ball is referred to as a different kind of game ball UB. The prize balls PB and the different kinds of game balls UB are collectively referred to as game balls PB and UB.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a ball receiving tray 5 is provided via a passage unit 4 to a table unit 3 comprising a game ball lending machine, a game ball counting / dispensing machine, a card unit and the like provided adjacent to each game table 1. The game balls discharged from the lower plate 9 of the game table 1 are counted, and the game balls discharged from the lower plate 9 are received by the ball receiving plate 5 and passed through the passage unit 4 and the inter-unit unit 3. In the counting unit 2 of the gaming table 1 collected on the island, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), a sorting unit for sorting the game balls received by the ball tray 5 into the non-target balls PB and the target balls UB. 7 and a counting unit 8 that counts the non-target balls PB distributed by the sorting unit 7.

  The counting unit 2 of the gaming table 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the sorting unit 7 and the counting unit 8 are composed of a ball tray 5 It is provided in a passage unit 4 provided at a position adjacent to (see FIG. 1).

  Further, a ball receiving tray 5 is installed below the lower tray 9 provided in each game table 1, and the prize balls PB discharged from the game table 1 are passed through holes provided in the lower plate 9 as shown in FIG. 3. After falling from 9a, it is received inside the ball receiving tray 5. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, an inclined passage 10 having a downward slope toward the opening 12 leading to the inside of the passage unit 4 is provided behind the ball receiving tray 5. It is set as the structure provided with the target ball storage part 11 mentioned later.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the inclined passage 10 is configured to have two lanes 10 a and 10 b by a guide 13 provided in the vicinity of the opening 12. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, the prize ball PB that has fallen on the ball receiving tray 5 rolls along the downward slope along the inclined passage 10 together with the game balls UB that are not regular regular prize balls PB mixed together. The lanes 10a and 10b are divided into two lanes 10a and 10b by the guide 13, and each lane is moved downward.

  In the following description, since each lane 10a, 10b of the inclined passage 10 has the same configuration, one lane will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).

  The sorting unit 7 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is in the direction of the passage switching shutter (passage switching unit) 16 near the lower end of the inclined passage 10 (counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 4A and 4B). A sprocket (feeding unit) 14 that is driven to rotate is provided. This sprocket 14 has a plurality of semicircular grooves 14a on the outer periphery, is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), rolls along the downward gradient of the inclined passage 10, and the regular balls mixed together. The game balls UB that are not the prize balls PB are accommodated one by one in each groove 14a of the sprocket 14 and transferred in the rotation direction.

  A ceiling wall 15 is formed at an upper portion of the sprocket 14 so as to be inclined from the opening 12 of the inclined passage 10. The ceiling wall 15 is formed from the upper part of the passage switching shutter 16 closed by a mechanism to be described later to the vicinity of the counter unit 8 downstream thereof, and each of the game balls PB and UB rolling from the opening 12 rolls one by one. In FIG. 4A, while maintaining the predetermined height, the passage switching shutter 16 is closed.

  An identification sensor 18 is provided on the ceiling wall 15 in the vicinity of the sprocket 14. As the identification sensor 18, a sensor that can discriminate the difference between the game balls PB and UB, such as an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, or an image sensor, can be applied, and the detection result of the identification sensor 18 is not illustrated. Then, the operation of the solenoid 19 is controlled by sending it as an electrical signal to the solenoid 19 provided at the lower end of the lower end of the inclined passage 10.

  Further, the end portion of the laterally movable movable piece 19a provided on the solenoid 19 is rotatably coupled to the lower portion of the support shaft 20 that pivotally supports the crank 22, and further coupled to the movable piece 19a. One end of the operating piece 21 is rotatably connected to the lower side than the portion 19b, and the other end of the operating piece 21 is rotatably connected to the lower part of the passage switching shutter 16. By such an operation of the solenoid 19, the passage switching shutter 16 rotates about the rotation shaft 16a, and the opening and closing operation of the passage switching shutter 16 closes the game balls PB and UB sent from the sprocket 14. In the state (the state of the passage switching shutter 16 shown in FIG. 4A), the guide passage is guided in the direction of the guide passage 17 and in the opened state (the state of the passage switching shutter 16 shown in FIG. 4B). It is possible to sort in the direction of a branch passage 26 provided below 17.

  A spring 22a is coupled to the upper end of the crank 22, and when the passage switching shutter 16 is rotated from the open state to the closed state, which is a standby state, the crank 22 is rapidly rotated by the spring 22a.

  With such a configuration, when it is determined by the identification sensor 18 that the game balls PB and UB accommodated in the groove 14a of the sprocket 14 are regular prize balls PB, these are designated as non-target balls PB as shown in FIG. As shown in a), the passage switching shutter 16 is closed, whereby the regular prize ball PB passes through the guide passage 17 via the passage switching shutter 16 and then reaches the counting unit 8.

  The counting unit 8 is provided with a counting sensor 23 at a location where the ceiling wall 15 is cut on the downstream side of the guide passage 17 having a downward slope, and a regular prize ball PB passing under the counting sensor 23 is provided. The number can be counted. Further, the regular prize ball PB that has passed through the counting unit 8 passes through a passage (not shown) in the inter-unit unit 3 through the opening 24 provided on the downstream side of the counting unit 8, and is then collected in the game island. Then, it circulates in the game island again and is used in each game machine 1.

  Further, when it is determined by the identification sensor 18 that the game balls PB and UB accommodated in the grooves 14a of the sprocket 14 are not regular prize balls PB, these are designated as target balls UB and shown in FIG. Thus, by opening the passage switching shutter 16, the target ball UB is sent to the detour passage 26 provided below the guide passage 17, and the target ball UB is provided in the ball receiving tray 5 as shown in FIG. 5. It transfers to the storage part 11 and stores. The target ball storage unit 11 can be pulled out forward in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 and is provided with a lock 28 on the front side so that the player cannot open it without permission. Then, it is possible to collect the target ball UB stored inside.

  It should be noted that a counting sensor 31 is provided in the bypass passage 26, and the number of target balls UB passing through the bypass passage 26 is counted. For example, when a predetermined number of target balls UB are counted, there is intentional fraud to the player. By considering it as a target for warnings and the like, it becomes possible to take measures against fraud.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration shown in FIG. 6 and FIGS. 7A and 7B may be adopted. As shown in FIG. 6, a guide guide 30 is provided behind the inter-unit unit 3 adjacent to each gaming table 1, and the target ball collection basket 29 is provided in the horizontal direction linearly in the gaming island 1 like the gaming table 1. The guide guide 30 is connected.

  The guide guide 30 is a target ball selected in the same configuration as the non-target ball guide path 30a for transferring the non-target ball PB selected in the configuration of FIGS. 7A and 7B described later to the game island. There is a target ball guide path 30 b for transferring the UB to the target ball collection basket 29.

  The target ball collection basket 29 is connected to the target ball guide path 30b of the guide guide 30, and the target ball UB transferred from the target ball guide path 30b is collected at the end of the game island or in the game island. It is transported to a portion <not shown> and forms a closed passage so as not to be mixed with game balls (non-target balls) PB in the game island.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the lower passage 32 is provided below the guide passage 17. In this configuration, the other configurations are the same as described above, and it is determined by the identification sensor 18 that the game balls PB and UB accommodated in the grooves 14a of the sprocket 14 are regular prize balls PB (non-target balls). When this is done, as shown in FIG. 7A, the passage switching shutter 16 is closed, so that the regular prize ball PB (non-target ball) passes through the guide passage 17 via the passage switching shutter 16. After reaching the counting unit 8 and counting by the counting sensor 23, it passes through a passage (not shown) in the inter-unit unit 3 through the opening 24 provided on the downstream side of the counting unit 8 as described above, and the inter-unit unit 3 can be collected in the game island through the non-target ball guide path 30a of the guide guide 30 provided at the rear of 3 and can be used again in the game machine 1 by circulating in the game island again.

  In addition, when it is determined by the identification sensor 18 that the game balls PB and UB accommodated in the grooves 14a of the sprocket 14 are game balls UB (target balls) that are not regular prize balls PB (non-target balls), FIG. 7 (b), the target ball UB is sent to the lower passage 32 by opening the passage switching shutter 16, and further passes through a passage (not shown) in the inter-unit unit 3 through the opening 25 from the lower passage 32. Furthermore, it is transferred to the target ball collection basket 29 through the target ball guide path 30b of the guide guide 30 provided behind the inter-unit unit 3 shown in FIG. The transferred target ball UB can be stored by sending it to a game island edge (not shown) or a collection unit installed in the game island.

  In addition, a counting sensor that counts the target ball UB passing through the lower passage 32 is provided, the number of passages of the target ball UB passing through the lower passage 32 is counted, and when the target ball UB is counted a predetermined number as described above, It may be regarded as a warning target by regarding the intentional illegal act of the player.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the selection unit 7 and the counting unit 8 are provided in the inter-unit unit 3 adjacent to each game table 1, and the game balls PB and UB are passages. After passing through the unit 4 and passing through the inclined passage 10 ′, the game stored in the groove 14 a of the sprocket 14 by the identification sensor 18 through the sorting unit 7 having the same configuration as in FIGS. 7A and 7B. When it is determined that the balls PB and UB are regular prize balls PB, the path switching shutter 16 is closed, and the regular prize balls PB pass through the guide path 17 via the path switching shutter 16. Then, after reaching the counting unit 8 and counting by the counting sensor 23, it is collected in the game island through the non-target ball guide path 30 a of the guide guide 30, and circulates in the game island again to be used in each game machine 1. Can do.

  Further, when it is determined by the identification sensor 18 that the game balls PB, UB accommodated in the grooves 14a of the sprocket 14 are game balls UB that are not regular prize balls PB, the operation is not shown in FIG. However, as shown in FIG. 7B, by opening the passage switching shutter 16, the target ball UB is sent to the lower passage 32, and further from the lower passage 32 through the target ball guide passage 30b of the guide guide 30. It is transferred to the target ball collection basket 29. The transferred target balls UB can be stored by sending them to a game island edge (not shown) or a collection unit installed in the game island.

  As described above, by providing a counting sensor for counting the target ball UB passing through the lower ball 32 or the target ball guide path 30b of the guide guide 30, when a predetermined number of target balls UB are counted, It may be considered as an object of warning considering that there is intentional fraud.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments, even if a counting sensor for counting the target ball UB is not provided, the intentional illegal act of the player can be detected as a warning target by counting the number of movements of the passage switching shutter 16 by a predetermined number of movements. Can be prevented.

  The counting unit of the gaming machine according to the present invention is a gaming machine capable of sorting game balls having different exchange rates for each gaming machine at the sorting unit and counting the regular gaming balls (prize balls) after sorting. It can be used as a counting unit.

It is a perspective view of the game stand in which the unit between tables in the present invention was installed next. It is a perspective view of the passage unit of Example 1 in the present invention. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the channel | path unit of Example 1 in this invention, (a) shows the state which closed the channel | path switching shutter, (b) shows the state which opened the channel | path switching shutter. It is sectional drawing of the channel | path unit of Example 1 in this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the target ball collection basket was provided behind the game stand in this invention. It is a figure which shows the other aspect of Example 1 in this invention, (a) shows the state which closed the path | route switching shutter, (b) shows the state which opened the path | route switching shutter. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the unit between tables of Example 2 in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Each game stand 2 Count unit 3 Inter-unit 4 Passage unit 5 Ball receiving tray 7 Sorting part 8 Counting part 9 Lower tray 9a Passing hole 10 Inclined passage 10 'Inclined passage 10a, 10b lane 11 Target ball storage part 12 Opening part 13 Guide 14 Sprocket (feeding part)
14a Groove 15 Ceiling wall 16 Passage switching shutter (passage switching unit)
16a Rotating shaft 17 Guide passage 18 Identification sensor 19 Solenoid 19a Movable piece 19b Coupling portion 20 Support shaft 21 Actuating piece 22 Crank 22a Coil spring 23 Count sensor 24 Opening 25 Opening 26 Detour passage 28 Locking 29 Target ball collecting rod 30 Guide guide 30a Non Target ball guide path 30b Target ball guide path 31 Count sensor 32 Lower path 33 Guide path PB Prize ball (non-target ball)
UB Different types of game balls (target balls)

Claims (6)

In the inter-unit unit adjacent to each game table, a ball receiving tray is provided via the passage unit, and the game balls discharged from the lower plate of the game table are counted,
In the game unit counting unit that receives the game balls discharged from the lower plate in the ball tray and collects them in the game island via the passage unit and the inter-unit unit,
A sorting unit that sorts game balls received from the ball tray into non-target balls and target balls;
And a counting unit for counting the non-target balls distributed by the sorting unit. The sorting unit includes a feed unit that is driven to rotate in the vicinity of the lower end of the inclined passage provided on the ball receiving tray with a downward slope,
While transporting each game ball one by one in the feeding section,
Identify the non-target ball or target ball with the identification sensor provided in the vicinity of the feeding part,
2. The counting unit of a gaming table according to claim 1, wherein the non-target balls distributed by the passage switching unit that operates according to the identification result are counted by a counting sensor provided in the counting unit.   3. The game table counting unit according to claim 1, wherein the sorting unit and the counting unit are provided in a passage unit installed adjacent to the ball receiving tray.   The sorting unit and the counting unit are provided in an inter-unit unit disposed at a position after the game balls received by the ball receiving tray have passed through the passage unit. A game unit counting unit. The target balls distributed by the sorting unit are
4. A counting unit for a game stand according to claim 1, wherein the counting unit is stored in a target ball storage section provided inside the ball receiving tray. The target balls sorted by the sorting section are
Recovered at the target ball collection jar and transferred to the collection section at the edge of the amusement island or in the amusement island for storage.
In addition, non-target balls distributed by the sorting unit are
5. The game table counting unit according to claim 1, wherein the game table is collected in the game island.